Vehicle window shade



'April 1934a A. J. MILLER, JR 1,955,466

VEHICLE WINDOW SHADE Filed Feb. 16, 1933 Kim M M QM Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention appertains to curtains for the rear windows of automobiles, and more particularly to curtains of the type to be operated from the front of the vehicle for the purpose set forth 5 in my prior Patent No. 1,876,430, granted to me September 6, 1932.

It has heretofore been proposed to utilize a curtain of the spring roller type with remote operating means (see my above mentioned. patent).

Curtains of the spring roller type with such controls are somewhat uncertain in their operation, and the mechanism is exposed to View, rendering the interior aspect of the vehicle more or less displeasing.

Therefore one of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide a curtain for the rear windows of automobiles, in which the spring roller is entirely eliminated, and one in which the curtain is slidably mounted for movement into and out of operative position relative to the window;

A further salient object of my invention is the provision of novel means for mounting the sliding curtain relative to the window, whereby the same will only be exposed to view when moved to its operative position, and novel means for operating said curtain at a point remote from the rear window, said operating means being entirely hid from view with exception of the manipulat- 3 ing handle.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for incorporating a curtain and its operating mechanism within the roof of the vehicle, with novel means normally 5 tending to draw the curtain to its lowered operative position against the locking mechanism of the operating handle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel guide for the curtain, so as to insure proper sliding movement thereof, during the raising and lowering operation, and to prevent undue wear on said curtain.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel curtain for the rear window of automobiles, and means for actuating the same from the drivers seat of the above character, which will be durable and efiicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

which drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the body of an automobile, showing my improved invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view looking toward the rear window, showing my invention applied thereto, part of the View being broken away and in section to illustrate structural details.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the body of a conventional automobile, which can be of any preferred type or make. The rear wall of the body is provided with the rear window 5, and the driver of the vehicle, through the medium of his front view mirror, is permitted to see the traffic through said window. Generally a curtain is provided for the rear window so that glaring headlights of following traffic can be shut off so as to cause no inconvenience to the operator of the vehicle.

As heretofore intimated, my invention appertains to a. novel curtain for the window 5, and novel means for operating said curtain from the drivers seat. In accordance with my invention I provide a sliding curtain 10, and all springwound shade rollers and the like are entirely eliminated. Consequently, rolling of the curtain is dispensed with. This not only insures longer life to the curtain, but also facilitates the certain operation of said curtain.

One of the main features of my invention resides in the arcuate guide plate 11, which is built within the roof of a car directly above the rear window 5. This arcuate plate 11 can be formed from any desired material, such as sheet metal, and is preferably of substantially the same width as the curtain. Upstanding guide flanges 12 are formed on the side edges of the plate 11, and prevent lateral shifting movement of the curtain. The upper portion of the window frame is provided with a slot 13 through which the curtain 10 is adapted to slide, incident to its raising and lowering movement, and the opposite ends of the curtain can be provided respectively with rods 14 and 15. The rod 15 is adapted to ride on the guide and guard plate 11, and relieves undue wear on the curtain.

Secured to the lower curtain rod 14 are downwardly extending cords, or the like, 16, which extend through the lower portion of the window frame into the rear wall construction in back of the rear seat of the automobile. Contractile coil springs 17 are secured to the lower ends of the cords 16, and these springs can be anchored to any desired part of the body. Thus these springs normally tend to draw the curtain to a lowered position.

Secured to the top curtain rod 15 is a flexible tape or pull-cord 18, and this tape or pull-cord 18 is arranged within the roof of the car and is hid from view by the upholstery fabric of said car. Directly above the drivers seat the roof of the car is provided with a guide-way 19, which is also preferably hidden within the roof construction. Slidably mounted in the guideway is a slide head 20 to which the forward end of the tape or pull-cord 18 is secured. Connected with the slide head 20 is a depending manipulating handle 21 which is in the nature of a set screw, and this manipulating handle extends through a slot in the roof of the car, which slot can be protected by an ornamental frame, or the like, 22. The set screw 21 is utilized for holding the head 20 in an adjusted position in its guide-way against the tension of the springs 1'7.

In the operation of my improved device, the set screw 21 is loosened, and the curtain 10 will be moved to its lowered position automatically by means of the springs 1'7. Consequently, it can be seen that the curtain can be instantly moved to its. lowered position at the desire of the driver of the vehicle. When it is desired to raise the curtain the screw 21 with the head 20 is pulled forward, after which the screw istightened to hold the head in its adjusted position.

Obviously different spring arrangements can be had, or the equivalents of springs can be used. Thus the lower rod 14 can be weighted, so that the curtain will be moved to its lowered position by gravity.

If preferred, expansion springs can be utilized for normally pushing down or lowering the curtain rod 14, and all of such variations are contemplated in my invention.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a vehicle having a rear window, a guide above said window, a shade slidably mounted in said guide for movement over and away from said window, and means located in advance of the guide for operating the shade.

2. In a vehicle, including a body having a roof and a rear window, an arcuate guide built within said roof directly above the window, a curtain slidably mounted over the guide and movable toward and away from the window, and means for operating the shade in front of the guide and at a point remote therefrom.

3. In a vehicle including a body having a roof and a rear window, an arcuate guide plate built within said roof and disposed directly above the window, a curtain slidably supported by said arcuate guide and movable toward and away from the window, means normally tending to move the curtain to a lowered position over the window, a pull-cord connected to the upper end of the curtain, manipulating means slidably supported by the roof of the car and connected to said cord, and means for holding the manipulating means in an adjusted position against movement.

4. In a vehicle including a body having a roof and a rear window, an arcuate guide plate built within the roof and terminating directly above said window, upstanding guide flanges formed on the longitudinal edges of said plate, a curtain slidable over said guide plate and confined against lateral shifting movement by said flanges, means normally tending to draw the curtain down over said window, a pull-cord connected with the upper end of said curtain arranged within the roof of the car, a sliding head secured to the forward end of the cord, 2. guide for the head built within the roof of the car, and a manipulating and holding screw connected with said head and depending through the roof into the interior of said car.

ALFRED J. MILLER, JR. 

